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What to eat in Wisconsin? Top 11 Wisconsinite Semi-hard Cheeses

Last update: Sat Feb 15 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Wisconsinite Semi-hard Cheese Types

01

Cheese

COLBY, United States of America
3.5
Colby
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Colby is an American cheese originating from the city of Colby in Wisconsin. This semi-hard cheese is made with cow's milk and has a firm, springy, and open texture. Its flavors are mild, creamy, and sweet, so Colby is often used in hamburgers, grilled sandwiches, fajitas, or served with apples, pears, and rye bread.


Colby is sometimes compared to cheddar, even though these two cheeses taste different – Colby is softer, it has a higher moisture content, and the curd is washed, which reduces the acids in the cheese, making it less tangy.

THE BEST Colby Cheeses
1 Colby
Carr Valley Cheese
Colby

5.0

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American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place 2006

2
Henning's Cheese
Colby Midget

5.0

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American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place 2024

3
MWC
Colby

4.8

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World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class 2024

02

Cheese

WISCONSIN, United States of America
3.5
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Brick is an American cheese hailing from Wisconsin. When pressed with coal-fired bricks to let the moisture out, it is also shaped into a brick, hence the unusual name. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and it's smear-ripened with bacteria.


Underneath the washed rind, the texture is smooth and open with small eyes throughout the body. The aromas are rich and pungent, while the flavors range from mild and sweet when young to tangy and intense with nutty hints when aged. It's recommended to serve Brick with pickled vegetables and au gratin dishes. 
THE BEST Brick Cheeses
1
Decatur Dairy
Brick

4.8

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World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class 2024

03

Cheese

WISCONSIN, United States of America
3.5
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Buttermilk Blue is an American blue cheese originating from Wisconsin, where it is made by Roth. The cheese is made with raw milk from Jersey and Holstein cows. It is aged in cellars for at least 2 months, resulting in a creamy and crumbly texture, fresh and mellow aromas, and piquant and tangy flavors.


The interior is ivory in color, with blue-gray veins dispersed throughout it. Buttermilk Blue should be paired with figs, pears, dark chocolate, and raw vegetables. Because it crumbles so easily, it is a great addition to burgers, pizzas, salads, and dips. 
04

Cheese

WISCONSIN, United States of America
n/a
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Cave Aged Marisa is an American cheese hailing from Wisconsin, where it's produced by Carr Valley Cheese Company. The cheese is made from sheep's milk and it's left to age in cellars for a minimum of 90 days before consumption. Underneath its natural rind, the texture is semi-hard and firm.


The aromas are sweet, while the flavors are sweet and tangy with creamy and lactic notes. It's recommended to pair Cave Aged Marisa with a glass of Rioja or sherry.

Pair with
THE BEST Cave Aged Marisa Cheeses
1 Cave Aged Marisa
Carr Valley Cheese
Cave Aged Marisa

4.9

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World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class 2012

05

Cheese

WISCONSIN, United States of America
n/a
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Menage is an American cheese hailing from Wisconsin, where it's produced by Carr Valley Cheese Company. The cheese is made from a mix of pasteurized sheep's, cow's, and goat's milk. Underneath its green waxed rind, the texture is firm, dry, and creamy.


The aromas are pleasant, while the flavors are intense, full, and rich. It's recommended to pair Menage with a glass of Shiraz or Pinot Noir in order to elevate its flavors. Menage has won many awards, including a bronze medal at the World Cheese Awards in 2011.

06

Cheese

WISCONSIN, United States of America
n/a
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Pleasant Ridge Reserve is an American cheese produced in Wisconsin by Mike Gingrich. Modelled on Beaufort and Gruyere, this cheese is made from raw cow's milk only from May to October. Underneath its washed rind, the texture is smooth, firm, and dense.


The flavors are full, rich, nutty, grassy, and creamy. A small batch of Pleasant Ridge Reserve is aged for more than a year, and it's then sold as Extra Aged in the fall and early winter. It's recommended to pair it with a glass of dry Champagne or Chardonnay.

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07

Cheese

WISCONSIN, United States of America
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Bohemian Blue is an American blue cheese produced by Hidden Springs Creamery in Wisconsin. The cheese is made with sheep's milk and its texture is crumbly and dry. It typically ages for 4 to 6 weeks and develops a piquant, sweet, and slightly sour flavor.


Bohemian Blue is easily distinguished by its label, which reads ''For people with artistic or literary interests who disregard conventional standards of behavior.'' The cheese was invented when there was a dispute between America and France – the French threatened to impose a 300% tariff on Roquefort, and the families Jensen and Hook decided to produce this cave-aged rindless blue cheese. 
08

Cheese

LADYSMITH, United States of America
n/a
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Mona is an American semi-hard cheese produced in Wisconsin by Wisconsin Sheep Dairy Cooperative. The cheese is made from a combination of sheep's and cow's milk and it ages for at least 6 months. During the maturation period, the cheese is covered in edible poly-coating in order to control the growth of mold and to preserve moisture.


The texture is firm, moist, supple, and crumbly. The aroma is grassy and the flavors are mild and sweet, with hints of butter, grass, and nuts. With further aging, the cheese becomes a bit drier and even more crumbly.

09

Cheese

WESTBY, United States of America
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Ocooch Mountain is an American cheese hailing from Wisconsin, where it's produced by Hidden Springs Creamery. The cheese is made from raw sheep's milk and it's usually left to age from 3 to 4 months before consumption. Underneath its washed rind, the texture is compact, dense, chewy, and grainy, becoming firmer with age.


The aromas are rich and nutty, while the flavors are nutty and fruity with hints of leather and caramel.

THE BEST Ocooch Mountain Cheeses
1 Ocooch Mountain Grande Reserve
Hidden Springs Creamery
Ocooch Mountain Grande Reserve

4.9

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American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place 2008, 2019, 2023

10

Cheese

WESTBY, United States of America
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Bad Axe is an American cheese hailing from Westby, Wisconsin, where it's produced by Hidden Springs Creamery. The cheese is made from pasteurized sheep's milk and it's left to age for 60 days before consumption. Underneath its black waxed rind, the texture is creamy, smooth, and semi-hard.


Aromas are fresh and floral, while flavors are smooth, creamy, milky, and slightly tart, similar to fresh mozzarella. Bad Axe is dipped in black wax in order to retain its moisture, and it was named after the river near the creamery that was the original site of the 1832 Battle of Bad Axe.

11
Cheese
FITCHBURG, United States of America
n/a
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Wisconsinite Semi-hard Cheese Producers

01

Cheese

GREEN BAY, United States of America
5.0
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BelGioioso Cheese, based in Wisconsin, USA, is renowned for its production of Italian-style cheeses since 1979. The company operates out of multiple facilities and crafts over 27 different varieties of cheese. BelGioioso is known for its commitment to quality, using fresh, local milk and traditional cheesemaking methods.


This commitment is evident in their practice of processing milk into cheese on the same day it is collected from local farms to ensure freshness and flavor. BelGioioso has been recognized widely in the cheese industry, receiving numerous awards from prestigious competitions like the World Cheese Championship and the American Cheese Society. 
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold

2021

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place

2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2003, 2002, 2000

Culture Cheese Magazine Best Cheeses issue - Best

2023

02

Cheese

LA VALLE, United States of America
5.0
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Carr Valley Cheese is a family-owned cheese company located in Wisconsin, known for its traditional cheesemaking techniques passed down through generations. It produces a wide variety of cheeses, including artisanal and specialty cheeses, that have won numerous national and international awards.


The company operates multiple retail stores across Wisconsin.
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold

2023, 2022, 2019

World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class

2020, 2016, 2012, 2010

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place

2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002

BEST Carr Valley Cheese Cheeses
03

Cheese

THORP, United States of America
5.0
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Marieke Gouda is a renowned cheese producer known for its traditional Dutch gouda, crafted in the heart of Wisconsin, USA. The company was founded by Marieke Penterman, who came to the United States from the Netherlands and began producing cheese using authentic Dutch methods.
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold

2023, 2019

World Cheese Awards - Gold

2023

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place

2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008

BEST Marieke Gouda Cheeses
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Wisconsinite Semi-hard Cheeses

01
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La Bottega di BelGioioso Artigiano Aged Balsamic & Cipolline Onion is an artisanal cheese product created by BelGioioso Cheese. It is a creamy and flavorful cheese that combines the tanginess of aged balsamic vinegar with the sweetness of cipolline onions.


The cheese is crafted using traditional methods, ensuring a high-quality product with a distinctive taste profile. Each wheel is carefully aged to develop a rich and complex flavor, making it an excellent choice for gourmet pairings and culinary uses.
AWARDS

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place

2017

02

Cheese

LA VALLE, United States of America
4.9
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Canaria is a cheese made by Carr Valley Cheese, an award-winning cheese producer located in Wisconsin. This semi-hard cheese has a distinctively bold and complex flavor profile, often described as having nutty and sweet undertones.
AWARDS

World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class

2016

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place

2012, 2002

03

THORP, United States of America
4.9
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Marieke Gouda Mature 6-9 months is a semi-hard cheese made by Marieke Gouda. This cheese is crafted in the Netherlands and aged for a period of 6 to 9 months to develop its robust flavor profile. During its maturation, the cheese acquires a firm texture and a slightly sweet, nutty taste with hints of caramel.


It is made from raw cow's milk, following traditional Dutch cheese-making techniques. The cheese is often enjoyed on its own, with crackers, or as part of various culinary dishes, adding a rich, creamy complexity.
AWARDS

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place

2013

04

Cheese

LA VALLE, United States of America
4.8
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Sweet Vanilla Cardona is a type of cheese produced by Carr Valley Cheese, a renowned artisanal cheese company. It is a goat's milk cheese flavored with natural vanilla, giving it a unique and sweet taste profile. The cheese has a creamy texture and a distinctively delicate vanilla aroma, making it an excellent choice for both dessert pairings and sophisticated cheese platters.


It has won awards for its innovative flavor and high quality.
AWARDS

World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class

2016

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Wisconsinite Semi-hard Cheeses